A new semi-reclining posture replaced the former rigid and upright appearance of court and aristocracy in the age of Louis XIV. A unified flow of curved seatrails into cabriole legs that generally ended in scroll feet became the norm.
The name “bergere”, meaning “shepherdess chair”, was coined in mid-eighteenth century Paris. The armchair was usually constructed of an upholstered back, and heavily padded elbow-rests which sat upon the armrest, with it’s wooden framing exposed and a loose but tailored seat cushion. The bergere became what was referred to at the time as a “meuble courant” (a running piece of furniture), meaning it was designed to be moved around a room or house according to its need. Unlike other chairs of it’s time that would be permanently placed along the walls of a room as decoration.